Electric signaling system.



No. 808,571. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. G. G. O'I'WBLL & I. H. MELVIN.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1906.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. OTWELL AND IRA H. MELVIN, OF LAUREL, DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed February 24, 1905. Serial No. 247,155.

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Be it known that we, CHARLES G. OTWELL and IRA H. MELVIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Laurel, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric signaling systems, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and effective organization of parts by means of which engineers along a railway line can communicate with each other or by means of which any one of them can be communicated with telephonicallyby a train-despatcher or like official. In addi tion to this we provide for the operation of alarms in railway-cabs from' a push-button or push-buttons at a central station or train despatchers oflice. The alarms may be either a bell or a light, or both, or the equivalents of the same and when operated from the central station indicate to an engineer that the despatcher wishes to communicate 'with him. The signaling-circuits in the 10- co-motive-cabs are normally closed; but each engineer by throwing a switch can cut out a signal or signals and put a telephone or equivalent instrument in his cab into electrical connection with the central station or with a telephone in the cab of another locomotive.

We have selected to indicate the purposes of our invention a certain arrangement of parts, which we will set forth in detail in the following description; but we do not limit ourselves to the exact disclosure thus made, for certain variations may be adopted within the scope of our claims succeeding said description. In this arrangement we employ track-rails as part of the currentconductors and also employ other conductors for carrying the current to either effect the operation of signals, such as a hell or light or telephone.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a signaling system involvingour invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail, the section being taken through the rock-shaft of the annunciator shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a cabinet located in a cab and carrying a'telephone and signals.

In the drawings the track is shown as composed of the customary parallel rails, each designated by 2, and the rails are laid in sections or blocks of suitable length, insulated from each other, the sections of one rail alternating or being in staggered relation with those of the other. Between the track-rails we interpose a continuous conductor, as 3, which may be in theform of a rail, and an ordinary rail may be employed for such purpose. The continuous railwhile intermediate the track-rails is not centrally located between the same, but is at one side of such center, so that when laid it will not interfere with water-troughs employed by some railroads and placed ordinarily exactly centrally between the track-rails.

The locomotive of an engine, as will hereinafter appear, carries two trailing contacts or traveling shoes adapted alternately to engage the intermediate rail 3 one shoe being adapted to engage such rail when'the locomotive is traveling in one direction, while the other shoe engages the said rail when the locomotive is traveling in the other direction. At this point we desire to state that we do not limit the use of the invention to incorporation in steam-railways, for it can be used with equal advantage in connection with electric and other railways, in which case a vehicle other than a locomotive would carry the signaling means described hereinafter. Therefore when we speak of locomotive we use the term in a broad sense to include vehicles of any character.

We will set forth the connections upon a locomotive. Connected with the locomotive in any desirable way, (and a detailed description of the connection is not necessary, as the same in itself forms no part of the invention,) are two trailing contacts, brushes, or shoes, as 4 and 5. From the trailing contact 4 a conductor, as 6, extends and is connectedwith the switch 7, adapted to alternately engage the contacts 8 and 9. From the contact 8 to the battery 10 a wire 11 extends, while a wire, as 12, extends from the battery to a bell or equivalent audible signal 13. In series with the bell is a lamp or other visual signal, as 14. From the bell 13 to the axle 15 of the locomotive a wire, as 16, extends. From the contact 9 to the telephone 17 a wire 18 extends, the wire 18 being connected with one pole of the telephone, while a wire, as 19, extends from the opposite pole of the telephone to the axle 15. A wire, as 20, extends from the shoe 5 to the wire 6, which latter, it will be remembered, extends from the shoe 4 to the switch 7. Normally the switch 7 is on the contact 8, so that the bell 13 and lamp 14 are cut in, this relation being maintained by a spring or equivalent means connected with the said switch. Therefore it will be understood that the connections on the locomotive are such as to be normally conditioned to bring about the action simultaneously of the bell and lamp. Should the engineer fail to hear the bell, he will see the lamp, and vice versa. gage the contact 9, the telephone will be cut in and the lamp and bell cut out, so that, as

will be hereinafter evident, the engineer can communicate with another engineer or with a train-despatcher or some one else at a'station. We may, as shown, mount the bell 13 and lamp 14 upon a housing, as 21, which also carries an indicator 22 and a push-button, as 23, the latter for making a test to see if the connections on the locomotive are in working order. The part 7, hereinbefore described, may be either a switch or push-button. It is shown on the housing 21 as a pushbutton, and therefore such push-button will be designated by 7.

We have described in full certain connections upon a locomotive whereby results in accordance with our invention can be obtained;

An annunciator is shown at 25, it having a casing surmounted by a telephone, as 26. The annunciator 25 and telephone 26 are situated at a station. On the upper side of the base of the annunciator-casing is shown arranged a series of push-buttons, each designated by 27 and corresponding with the number of blocks'in the railway. We have only shown six of these push-buttons; but this number may be largely increased, as occasion may require. Other circuit-controllers may, if desired, be employed instead of the push-buttons. We will describe the connections between the push-button 27 on the extreme right in Fig. 1 and the conductorrails. From one terminal of said push-but ton to the track-rail, which we will term a to distinguish it from the other track-rail, a wire 28 extends, a wire 29 extending from the intermediate or conductor rail 3 to the other terminal of said push-button. When, therefore, the rail or and the intermediate conductor-rail 3 are bridged by conducting connections, such as those hereinbefore described on the locomotive, and when the switch 7 is in its normal position, the bell 13 and lamp 14 can simultaneously be operated by pressing the button 27 on the right should the locomotive be in the block including said rail a and intermediate conductor 3.

We provide means, as will now appear, for locating a locomotive or a train, so that after the same has been located the signals in the locomotive can be operated to indicate to the engineer in charge that the operator at the station wishes to communicate with him.

In the upper side of the annunciator-casing is mounted a rock-shaft, as 30, of some When the switch 7 is thrown to en- We will describe the connections between one pair of spring-contacts and an electromagnet and certain other features comprising the means for locating a train, the same applying to the other parts. From the contact 33 a wire, as 35, extends and to one terminal of the electromagnet 36. From the other terminal of said electromagnet the wire 37 extends and is connected to the wire 28, hereinbefore described. From the contact-strip 34 a wire 38 extends to one terminal of a battery 39, the other terminal of said battery being connected by a wire 40 with the track-rail section b, which with the adj acent and overlapping track-rail sectiona, constitutes a block. We have therefore described in full the connections between an electromagnet 36 and two track-rail sections,,form ing a block. It will be assumed that a locomotive is in the block including the railsec tions (1 and b. In this event the metallic part of the locomotive itself will be used for electrically bridging the said railsections a and I). Should this be the case, when the shaft 30 is rocked to bring its pins against the free portions of the spring-strips 33 the magnet 36, through the described connections, will be energized, so as to attract its armature on the swinging needle 41, which cooperates with a number on the face-plate of the annunciator to indicate the block in which the locomotive is located. The block including the rails a and I) would be numbered to correspond with the magnet 36. We have only shown one magnet and its connections with the conductor-rails, as we deem this only necessary to a full understanding of our invention. The connections between the other magnets and other block-sections will be the same. When, therefore, a locomotive is upon the rail-sections a and b, the latter will be electrically bridged by the metallic connections of the locomotive, as has been stated, so that when the shaft 30 is manipulated the annunciator will indicate to the operator or despatcher that a train is on the block including said rail-sections. When such indication is had, the button. 27 on the extreme right, as has been hereinbefore set forth, will be pressed in order that through the described connections the bell 13 and light 14 will be operated. Each electromag- Extending transverselynet-circuit, as will be understood, includes a battery of its own, and such electromagnetcircuits correspond with the number of blocks and push-buttons.

Upon the forward side of the base of the annunciator is arranged a metallic plate 45, extending entirely across the same, and above which are arranged plates, each desig nated by 46 and corresponding in number with the push-buttons. In the under side of each plate 46 is formed part of a .perforation or opening, the complemental portion thereof being formed in the upper edge or the plate 45, which latter v as will be evident, is common to all of the plates 46. We have only represented in full the connections between one plate 46 and telephone and conductor-rails, as will now appear. The other connections being the same, no extended description thereof is necessary. Said connections are illustrated between the plate 46 on the extreme right in Fig. 1. From said plate 46 on the extreme. right a conductor or wire, as 47, extends and is connected to the conductor or wire 29. From the wire 29 a wire 48 extends to one pole of the telephone 26, a

wire 49 extending from the other pole of the telephone to the plate 45. When, therefore, a 'locomotive is in the block hereinbefore described and the same has been located by the manipulation of the shaft 30, the push-button 27 on the extreme right in Fig. 1 will be operated to sound the bell 13 and simultaneously flash the lamp 14 on the locomotive in saidblock to indicate to the engineer that the" operator wishes to communicate with him. When this is done, a plug will be put into the opening formed partially in the plate 45 and in the plate 46 above the same on the extreme right in said figure, thereby putting the telephone 26 into electrical connection with the telephone 17 on the locomotive, it being understood that as soon as the bell and lamp in the locomotive-cab were operated the switch 7 was operated to carry it against the contact 9 and cut in the telephone 17 By the connections hereinbefore described it will be evident that an operator or traindespatcher can readily and without any delay locate several trains or sections of a train traveling between stations and having done so can operate a signal on any one of the trains or sections independently of the others. This having been done the engineer whose signal has been thus operated will throw his switch so as to put his telephone into electrical connection with that at the station and permit him to converse with the operator. The operator can select any train and having done so can communicate with the engineer thereof to the exclusion of other trains. Hence he can convey orders to one engineer without doing so to others, or should occasion requireit he can hold telephonic conversation with several engineers at the same &

time. In like manner by the system one engineer can communicate with another on a distant or adjacent block or with several engineers, prior to which he will operate the signal or signals upon the locomotive or locomotives of the other engineer or engineers.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. In an electric signaling system, the combination of track-rails arranged in blocks, a conductor-rail separate from the track-rails, a switch, the terminals of which are electric ally connected with track-rails composing a block, an electrically-operated device in series with said switch, a telephone and a circuit-controller in series with each other and electrically connected with said conductorrail and one of the track-rails composing said block, and a movably-mounted member arranged for operation by said electricallyoperated device, the two constituting an index or indicator.

2. In an electric signaling system, the combination of track-rails arranged in blocks, a conductor-rail separate from the track-rails, a switch, the terminals of which are electrically connected with track-rails composing a block, an electrically-operated device in series with said switch, a telephone and a circuit-controller in series with each other and electrically connected with said conductorrails and one of the track-rails composing said block, a movably-mounted member arranged for action by said electrically-operated device, the two constituting an index or indicator, a vehicle the wheels of which are arranged to travel upon said rails, conducting connections connected with the vehicle, having a telephone and a signal, and a switch on the vehicle to put the, signal or telephone into action.

3. In an electric signaling system, the combination of track-rails in insulated alternating conducting-sections, a conductor-rail be tween said sections, a vehicle, the wheels of which are arranged to travel upon said trackrail, contacts on the vehicle to alternately engage the conductor-rail, a contact, an electrical connection between said contact and a part of the vehicle, involving a telephone, a second contact, electrical connections between the second contact and part of the vehicle, involving a battery and signal, a switch to alternately engage said two last-mentioned contacts, and electrical connections between the switch and the contacts which alternately travel upon the conductor-rail.

4. In an electric signaling system, the combination of track-rails in insulated alternating conducting-sections, a conductor-rail between, and at one side of a center line between, said sections, a vehicle, the wheels of which are arranged to travel upon said rails, trailingv contacts on the vehicle to alternately engage said conductor-rail, conductbination of track-rails arranged in blocks, a

conductor-rail separate from the track-rails, a switch, the terminals of which are electric ally connected with track-rails composing a block, an electromagnet in series with said switch, a telephone and a push-button in se ries with each other and electrically connected with said conductor-rail and one of the said track-rails composing a block, and a movablymounted member having an armature for said electromagnet, the two constituting an index device.

6. In an electric signaling system, the combination of trackrail's arranged in blocks, a

conductor-rail separate from the track-rails,

a switch, the terminals of which are electrically connected with track-rails composing a block, an electromagn'et in series with said switch, a telephone and a push-button in series with each other and electrically connected with said conductor-rail and one of the said traclcrails composing a block, a movably-mounted member having an armature for said electromagnet, the two constituting an index device, and a vehicle having electric conducting means for bridging the conductor-rail and the track-rails, said connections involving a signal and a telephone, and a switch for putting the telephone and signal on the vehicle alternately into action.

7. .In an electric signaling system, the combination of track-rails arranged in insulated conducting and alternating sections, a conductor-rail between the track-rails, a vehicle to travel upon the track-rails and having a electromagnet, a switch for opening and clos- I ing the circuit embracing said connections, an index device cooperative with said magnet a nd carrying an armature for said magnet, connections between the conductor-rail and a track-rail section, involving a telephone, a manually-operable switch electrically connected with a track-rail section and conductor, and electrical means on the vehicle for bridging the conductor-rail and a track-rail section, involving a telephone and a signal, and means for putting them alternately into action.

8. In an electric si naling system, the combination of track-rai s arranged in blocks, a conductor-rail intermediate the, track-rails, a manually-operable switch connected with a block-rail and conductor-rail, connections between the cooperative track-rails forming a block, involving an electricallyoperated device, an index having an armature for the electricallyoperated device, aswitch for opening and closing the circuit embracing said connections, connections between a track-rail and a conductor-rail, including a telephone, a vehicle having electric conducting means for bridging the conductor-rail and a track-rail, said connections involving a signal and a telephone, and a switch for putting the telephone and signal alternately into action.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. G. OTWELL. IRA H. MELVIN.

Witnesses:

MINos B. HEAM, JOHN S. OLAPHAM. 

